Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-18
The hourly record of the temperature
during the day was AS follows:

Inc aNcTSe 1Or the Twelve nOuTS sucCetu
ing 10 Il. III. was l01', a very decided in.
crease over the average of Saturday, and q
degree of heat well calculated 10 give rise t.
the gravest alarm, and to render the taking
of every possible precaution something u
be urged upon all. As there is nothing Il
indicate speedy let-up to this period o
high thermometer, and rs the Tong cOntin
ued hot-spell daily increases the danger OF
prostration, it is proper TO call attention tG
the course to be pursued in order TO give
relief to one overcome by the heat. A
recent writer says:
Sunstroke, or thermic fever or coup de
soleii, is condition of the body brought
about by exposure to high temperatures,
where the body is unable to throw OF the
excess of heat produced. This causes an
increase in the temperature of the body Ia
very high degree, for example to l07 or
III degrees-0s % degrees being the nor
NAL temperature. This results in uncon.
sciOusness and degeneration of the It's.
sues, affecting principally the blood and
brain. This condition is heat and exbaus-
tiun.
Sunstroke Is caused by exposure TO the
direct rays OF the sun, exposure to furnace
heat, violent cxertion in extremely hot
weather, and from eating hearty meal
and subsequently, violent exercise. Strong
men, it il noted, are more liable TO be
seized than weak, most frequent cases be.
ing among steyedores, puddlers and men
working i'll trenches or cellars where the
air is shut Off SunstrOke is likely to be
prevalent when the days are hot, steamy
and oppressive, and not necessarily when
the sun shines fiercely.
The symptoms are very high temper
allure, unconsciousness, difficult respir.-
ton, flushed face and bounding pulse
Skin usually dry, and in severe cases
'mousey" odor, looseness of the bowels
and commissions. Just previous TO stroke
the sufferer finds it difficult 10 distinguish
the color Of objects. The dry, hot skin in.
dicates that one Of the most powerful
means OF cooling the body, viz perspira-
ton, is cut of. This symptom, dry skin,
is among the first to be noted, and should
always be needed in sunstroke cases.
Others are sense Of faintness or weakness.
There is also a sense OF construction Of the
chest, or difficulty Of breathing. even in
the earlier stages. These arc iBe danger
signals, for it is really in this climate, As
in India, men fall dead without warning.
The paramount question is To reduce
the temperature Of the blood and to do il
as quickly as possible. In most eases the
life of the patient will dspead upon the
promptnesa and degree to which this is &c
compilsbed. How is this best effected?
The most efficient and safe means is the
application of cold 10 the surface, except
where persons are known TO be very
feeble or suffering from organic disease OF
the heart. Plunge the patient into a cold
bath, with plenty Of ice in the water, or
rub the body all over with ice-iron it
with ice, 40 To spesk-the clothing, Of
course, having been removed. Or, wrap
the patient up in sheets or towels ruDg out
Of ice water, removing them As soon as
they get warm and substituting cold ones
When We consider that the blood in
health completes the cifclit OF the circu-
lation twice in less than . minute, and
when the enormous area OF surface pre-
sented by the periphery Of the body Is
comprehended 1t will at once appear how
readily the blood can thus he cooled.
No alcoholic stimulants should be given.
Teaspoonful doses Of aromatic spirits Of
ammonia may be given in half glass of
water every half hour until the medicine
man arrives, but even this is unnecessary.
The great point is to cool the blood. In
most cases those in attendance before the
doctor comes are content with washing the
patients face and hands and putting ice
on the top Of his head. This Is wAoiiy ia-
su6iaient. The ice would lie Of much more
service If applied to the sides Of the neck,
for there IL would cool the blood, both in
the carotid and jugular viens. Do not
wait for the doctor; when he comes it is
often too late; the time for remedies has
passed.
After midnight this morning . cool
breeze blew up, which made sleeping pos
sible, and it is probable that not many
people got to sleep before that time.